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Event Permanent Settlement
Asked 9 times across 4 UPSC exams over 14 years (2011–2025), peaking in 2011.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 5 of 9 PYQs
- Most asked in 2011
- Recurs across 6 years (2011–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 2011 → CAPF 2014 → NDA 2020 → CDS 2025
How the concept evolved
Long-running — most appearances (5 of 9) predate 2016, and it still returns.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2025
Consider the following statements about the Bengal countryside at the time of the Permanent Settlement
- The zamindars' troops were disbanded
- Within the villages, the power of jotedars was more effective than that of zamindars
- The East India Company made a rule that the property of women would be taken over
- Adhiyars were sharecroppers on the land owned by bargadars
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- A 1, 2 and 4
- B 1, 2 and 3
- C 2, 3 and 4
- D 1 and 3 only
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
History › Modern India (1757–1857)
CSE2024
With reference to revenue collection by Cornwallis, consider the following statements
- Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvests or natural calamities
- Under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state, on or before the fixed date, he would be removed from his Zamindari
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
History › Modern India (1757–1857)
NDA2020
What was the consequence of Permanent Settlement on rural society in Bengal ?
- A The zamindars invested capital and enterprise to improve agriculture along lines of British yeoman farmers
- B A group of rich peasants known as jotedars succeeded in consolidating their position in the villages ✓
- C The ryots prospered as a result of fixed revenue levy imposed on them
- D The system of Collectorate introduced by the Company for exercising supervisory control on zamindars failed to take off
✓ Correct answer: (B)
History › Modern India (1757–1857)
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